Melon Music Awards 2026 Names PLAVE, RIIZE, NCT WISH, ALPHA DRIVE ONE, and LNGSHOT in First Lineup

The Melon Music Awards 2026 has unveiled the first group of artists set to take part in this year’s ceremony. PLAVE, RIIZE, NCT WISH, ALPHA DRIVE ONE, and LNGSHOT were named in the opening lineup announcement released on September 16.

The five acts are the first confirmed names for the 18th edition of the awards. Their announcement begins the event’s artist rollout ahead of a two-day ceremony scheduled for November 14 and 15 at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul.

Five acts open the MMA2026 lineup

The initial list places PLAVE, RIIZE, NCT WISH, ALPHA DRIVE ONE, and LNGSHOT together as the first wave of MMA2026 participants. The wording of the announcement identifies this as a starting lineup, leaving room for additional artists to be revealed as the November dates approach.

For audiences planning to follow the ceremony, the first lineup provides the earliest clear view of who will be part of the program. It does not yet define the complete artist roster, but it establishes five names around which the event can begin building its performance schedule and promotional campaign.

The announcement also gives equal billing to all five acts. Rather than centering the reveal on one headline performer, MMA2026 introduced a group of artists at once. That format makes the first update feel like the opening stage of a broader rollout rather than a finished list.

‘Connect’ sets the theme for the 18th ceremony

This year’s key theme is ‘Connect.’ The event’s main slogan expands that idea into ‘K-POP CONNECT: The New Pulse.’ Together, the theme and slogan frame the ceremony around links within K-pop and a sense of new momentum.

The word ‘Connect’ gives MMA2026 a simple organizing concept that can be applied across its artist lineup, stages, and two-day structure. ‘The New Pulse’ adds a forward-looking element, presenting the ceremony as a place where current K-pop activity and what comes next can meet.

The first lineup fits naturally within that framework. Five separately named acts are brought together under one awards event, while later announcements can expand the network of performers and participants. The theme therefore functions as more than a decorative phrase; it provides a clear lens for the continuing rollout.

Two days at Gocheok Sky Dome

MMA2026 will take place over November 14 and 15 at Gocheok Sky Dome. Confirming both dates at the lineup stage gives viewers and attendees a clear timetable roughly two months before the ceremony.

The two-day schedule is one of the most important details in the announcement because it defines the basic scale of the event. A lineup that begins with five acts will ultimately be organized across two dates, making future updates important for understanding how the full program will be distributed.

Gocheok Sky Dome also fixes the ceremony firmly in Seoul. With the location and dates confirmed, subsequent artist announcements can be understood within a concrete event plan rather than as isolated names without a venue or schedule.

The timing of the first reveal gives MMA2026 space to release more information in stages. Between September 16 and the November event, the announced five acts can serve as the foundation while the complete lineup and other ceremony details take shape.

What the first announcement establishes

At this point, MMA2026 has confirmed four core elements: the first five participating acts, the ‘Connect’ theme, the ‘K-POP CONNECT: The New Pulse’ slogan, and the two-day Gocheok Sky Dome schedule. Those details are enough to define the identity and basic structure of the 18th Melon Music Awards.

PLAVE, RIIZE, NCT WISH, ALPHA DRIVE ONE, and LNGSHOT now hold the distinction of leading the lineup rollout. Their inclusion provides the first concrete artist news for the ceremony, while the ‘first lineup’ label makes further additions the next major point to watch.

As November 14 and 15 draw closer, the event’s roster will become more complete. For now, the opening announcement establishes a five-act starting point and connects it to a two-day Seoul ceremony built around the idea of a new K-pop pulse.